Finnair: Pet Policy

You must contact Finnair Reservations directly to make travel arrangements for your pet; space is often limited.

What methods of transport does Finnair provide for my pet?

Travel in the passenger cabin.

Checked as baggage in the hold.

Shipped as cargo.

Does my pet qualify for travel in the passenger cabin?

Small pets, such as cats, dogs and pet rodents can be carried in the cabin of an aircraft; certain restrictions apply. The airline has the right to refuse transportation if the transportation box or bag is too large for transport in the cabin if or the animal is too large for the cage. The animal may also be moved to the hold if the transportation box or bag exceeds the maximum allowed dimensions.

The total weight of the pet and the transportation box or bag may not exceed 8 kg/17 lb. The maximum dimensions of the transportation box are the same as for carry-on baggage (56 x 45 x 25 cm/22 x 18 x 10 in).

Only one transportation box or bag per passenger is allowed.

The animal must remain fully in the box or bag for the duration of the flight.

For transporting a cat or dog in the cabin, a soft bag is recommended, as it is easier to fit under the seat. The bag must have a solid bottom and be suitable for animal transport.

Bags designed especially for the transportation of pets are available at well-equipped pet shops. Rodents must always be transported in a cage.

Does my pet qualify for travel as checked baggage?

A pet that weighs over 40 kg/88 lb must be transported in a strong, wooden transportation box.

At most, three puppies less than six months of age may be transported in the same box, provided that each of the puppies weighs less than 14 kg/30 lb.

Only two animals over six months of age are allowed in the same box. Maximum allowed weight of each animal is 14 kg/30 lb.

If the total weight of the pet and the box exceeds 50 kg/110 lb, it must be shipped as freight.

Only two pet boxes at a time can be transported in the hold of the aircraft and only one pet box in the Embraer aircraft. Approved pet transportation boxes are sold at large department stores and pet shops.

Does my pet qualify to be shipped as cargo?

If your pet does not meet the requirements for travel in the cabin or as checked baggage, or if you would like your pet to travel unaccompanied,

What are the fees associated with pet transport?

Pets cannot be included in the free baggage allowance and a fee is charged for their transportation. Only assistance dogs are transported free of charge.

One-way fees for transporting pets on Finnair's scheduled flights within Finland, Europe and Asia are listed in the table below. Fees apply when travelling on a Finnair-operated flight with a ticket bearing a Finnair flight number.

On flights to the United States, an excess-baggage fee for one piece of excess baggage is charged for a pet transported in the cabin of the aircraft (US$90-110); the excess-baggage fee for a pet transported in the hold is €252. In other cases, a fee equal to 1.5% of the highest fare for an economy class ticket will be charged regardless of travel class.

On Leisure flights, the charges for one-way transport of pets are as follows: €100 for flights shorter than 5 hours, €160 for flights 5-8 hours long and €200 for flights longer than eight hours. On Leisure flights, pets are transported in the hold of the aircraft only.

What are the kennel requirements?

Finnair adheres to the regulations issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) concerning the acceptance of animals for air transport (Live Animal Regulations). Most pet shops and kennels sell transportation boxes that conform to the IATA regulations regarding pet transport. Size requirements of kennel

The transportation box must be sufficiently large, so that the animal can stand up straight, turn around and lie down with ease.

The box must be strong enough for the safety and protection of the animal during the flight.

In addition, there must be air holes on each of the four sides of the box to ensure sufficient air supply during the flight.

The door of the box must be locked to ensure it does not open accidentally, or that the animal cannot open it during the flight.

The pet's muzzle or paws must not protrude from the air holes to ensure the animal does not injure itself.

The water and food containers must be reachable from the outside.

Boxes or show cages made of chipboard or chicken wire are not acceptable for air transport.

What health documentation is required?

According to a directive issued by the European Union, all dogs, cats and ferrets travelling on the same flight with the passenger, within the EU, must be identifiable by a micro chip or a clearly readable tattoo. In addition, the pet must be accompanied by a certificate (known as a pet passport), which includes information on anti-rabies vaccinations, as well as other information concerning the health status of the animal. Further information is available from Evira (the Finnish Food Safety Authority).

Are there any other restrictions?

Finnair can refuse to transport an animal due to illness, aggressive behavior, poor kenneling, or extreme temperatures at origin, transfer, or destination airports.

Please contact Finnair directly for information about traveling with a service animal.